| title | description | keywords | services | ms.subservice | ms.date | ms.topic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Configure data at scale for Azure Automation State Configuration |
This article tells how to configure data at scale for Azure Automation State Configuration. |
dsc,powershell,configuration,setup |
automation |
dsc |
08/08/2019 |
conceptual |
Applies To: Windows PowerShell 5.1
Managing hundreds or thousands of servers can be a challenge. Customers have provided feedback that the most difficult aspect is actually managing configuration data. Organizing information across logical constructs like location, type, and environment.
Note
This article refers to a solution that is maintained by the Open Source community. Support is only available in the form of GitHub collaboration, not from Microsoft.
A community maintained solution named Datum has been created to resolve this challenge. Datum builds on great ideas from other configuration management platforms and implements the same type of solution for PowerShell DSC. Information is organized in to text files based on logical ideas. Examples would be:
- Settings that should apply globally
- Settings that should apply to all servers in a location
- Settings that should apply to all database servers
- Individual server settings
This information is organized in the file format you prefer (JSON, Yaml, or PSD1). Then cmdlets are provided to generate configuration data files by consolidating the information from each file in to single view of a server or server role.
Once the data files have been generated, you can use them with DSC Configuration scripts to generate MOF files and upload the MOF files to Azure Automation. Then register your servers from either on-premises or in Azure to pull configurations.
To try out Datum, visit the PowerShell Gallery and download the solution or click "Project Site" to view the documentation.
- To understand PowerShell DSC, see Windows PowerShell Desired State Configuration overview.
- Find out about PowerShell DSC resources in DSC Resources.
- For details of Local Configuration Manager configuration, see Configuring the Local Configuration Manager.